"You're spouting nonsense!"
"How dare you slander Lord Humphrey, you are courting death!"
Frower was slightly stunned, he could never believe that their Cardinal of the Red Robe would rob people.
Immediately, he understood.
This fellow in front of him must want to tarnish the reputation of the Hall of Light, so he could not only strike him down legitimately but also make other factions detest the Hall of Light.
With these thoughts in mind, Frower roared and waved his hand.
Seeing this, the Divine Envoys and mercenaries who had just rested had to pick up their weapons and press towards Ye Cangtian.
They did not want to fight either, but the opponent was too infuriating, and he also wanted to rob them of the crystals they had earned with their lives. Who could stand this!
"Heh, it seems you don't appreciate a toast and prefer a refusal?"
"Then you can't blame me for being ruthless."
Seeing the opponent pressing forward, Ye Cangtian chuckled, and then flickered and charged forward.
*Puff puff puff...*
The battle was far simpler than imagined.
The strength gap was already huge, and the opponent had just fought and had not recovered, so it was exceptionally easy to deal with them.
"You..."
Frower's face changed, and sweat the size of beans began to trickle down.
He had thought that these Divine Envoys and mercenaries could hold on for a while, allowing him to recover more strength.
But in less than two minutes, they were dealt with, dead or injured.
This was not due to the incompetence of his subordinates, but because the opponent was too powerful!
"What? Do you want to escape?"
At this moment, Ye Cangtian's gaze had already turned over. Seeing the other party moving stealthily, he was filled with disdain.
It was as if he was saying that in your current condition, you wouldn't be able to escape even if you tried.
Frower swallowed, then gritted his teeth and said, "Don't you just want crystals? I admit defeat today, and I'll give them all to you!"
There was no choice, the situation was beyond his control!
To save his life, he could only hand over the crystals to have a future.
"Congratulations, you've made the right choice."
Ye Cangtian smiled slightly, walked forward, and extended his hand.
Seeing this, Frower reluctantly handed the bag containing the crystals to Ye Cangtian, then turned to leave.
He had already found the mark of the Hall of Light. As long as he met up with the Hall of Light as soon as possible, he might be able to reclaim the crystals and avenge this humiliation.
"Wait, I didn't say you could leave."
Ye Cangtian stopped the other party and continued, "If you had handed over the crystals earlier, you would have been safe. But since you resisted and attacked me, you naturally deserve some punishment."
Upon hearing this, Frower's face turned green, and he roared indignantly, "Xuan Qi, don't go too far!"
"Hmph! So what if I'm going too far?"
"Let me tell you, either leave a leg behind, or leave your life!"
Ye Cangtian's expression turned cold, and a dagger reappeared in his hand. It was clear that if the other party didn't know what was good for them, he would take the initiative to attack.
"I'll fight you!"
Frower instantly went berserk.
After all, he was a Cardinal of the Purple Robe, accustomed to being in a high position, so he naturally had a temper.
Now that he was being humiliated like this, it was normal for him to find it unbearable.
If he really left a leg behind, even if he managed to return alive, could he still retain his position as a Cardinal of the Purple Robe?
The next moment.
He instantly drew a cross-shaped longsword and charged at Ye Cangtian.
"Then die."
Ye Cangtian said indifferently and swung the dagger in his hand.
For a time, blades and sword lights clashed.
Although it seemed fierce, it was actually one-sided.
Ye Cangtian held the advantage, and within ten moves, he severed Frower's lifeline and sent him flying.
Understanding his own condition, Frower knew that he was bound to die today.
He glared at Ye Cangtian with hatred and said, "Xuan Qi, those who do much injustice will perish by themselves. You and your Dark Association are destined for a tragic end..."
"This sentence, I will return it to the Hall of Light in its entirety!"
Ye Cangtian did not get angry, he smiled faintly, and then turned and disappeared into the forest.
Frower's life force was completely cut off, and he could not last long.
As for the Divine Envoys and mercenaries still alive on the ground, he did not attack them. It would be good to let them go back and report.
If the conflict between the Hall of Light and the Dark Association could be escalated, the situation for the Hidden Group and the Dragon Group would be much easier.
...
Approaching the mountain peak.
Ye Cangtian finally found the location of the Dark Association.
At this time, the people of the Dark Association were resting.
They understood that once they reached the manor on the mountain peak, they might have to fight with other factions before even entering it.
After all, in their opinion, the giant sword in the manor should be the heart of the ruins.
With the temptation of treasure, coupled with the previous infighting between factions, other factions might be eager to eliminate their rivals.
Therefore, the Dark Association's plan was to conserve their strength.
On the other hand!
When the mercenaries on outer patrol discovered Xuan Qi's return, they immediately took him to see Zi Long.
As he walked, Ye Cangtian was inwardly shocked.
With three Earth-level experts guarding the area, the losses on this side were still significant. Of the nearly one hundred mercenaries, only a little over twenty remained, and the Caesar Mercenary Group was basically crippled.
In addition to this.
Some Xuan-level and Huang-level members had also sustained injuries, fortunately, they were not serious.
"Bastard, you cowardly wretch who abandons his comrades! How dare you show your face again!"
Before meeting Zi Long, Ye Cangtian saw a familiar figure.
It was none other than Xuan Liu, who had rejoined the team later.
Xuan Liu harbored considerable resentment towards Ye Cangtian, as the latter had turned tail and fled when they were being robbed by Humphrey.
He had completely disregarded her as his companion, which had always made her unhappy.
This girl still held a grudge...
Ye Cangtian understood her meaning and smiled faintly, "Xuan Liu, you saw the situation before. I was forced to do it. Are we really able to defeat Humphrey if we join forces?"
Xuan Liu was rendered speechless. After a long pause, she said indignantly:
"Then don't you have any gentlemanly demeanor! In that situation, I should have been the one to escape first!"
"Heh, whoever stays behind dies. Do you think I'm stupid!"
"If it were you, would you choose to stay behind?"
"You!"
Ye Cangtian smiled faintly, ignored Xuan Liu any further, and strode past her.
This made Xuan Liu stomp her feet in anger.
What the other party said was true, she wouldn't have chosen to stay behind in that situation.
But since it happened to her, she was just indignant!
On the other side!
Ye Cangtian had already arrived before the three Earth-level stewards and bowed slightly.
The faces of the three Earth-level stewards were very grim.
After all, Xuan Qi had disappeared with Zhang Liang and Shangguan Yun, ruining a good hand. They were now maintaining an attitude of suspicion.
"Xuan Qi, where did you go? Why did you suddenly disappear."
After all, Zi Long was the first to speak, as Xuan Qi was his subordinate.
Seeing Zi Long's displeased expression, Ye Cangtian quickly explained:
"Your subordinate saw that the Dragon Group members were missing, so I went to search the surroundings. Just as I was about to catch up with the two, I unexpectedly encountered Ye Cangtian..."
Hmm?
Hearing Ye Cangtian's explanation, Zi Long glanced back at Xuan Wu behind Lan Yue. Their explanations for the first half were basically the same.
However, he did not say much, as such coincidences were understandable.
He looked at Ye Cangtian and continued, "You encountered Ye Cangtian, how did you escape from him?"
In Zi Long's opinion, even if Xuan Qi's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, it could not compare to that Ye Cangtian.
Moreover, the Huaxia Dragon Group had always been mortal enemies of the Dark Association, so how could the other party let Xuan Qi go?
Upon hearing this, Ye Cangtian quickly said, "Your subordinate was no match for him and retreated. It was purely luck that I was attacked by stone figures."
"And Ye Cangtian was worried about Zhang Liang and Shangguan Yun's safety, so he did not continue to pursue your subordinate..."
Ye Cangtian fabricated a simple story, then took out two white crystals from his pocket and handed them over as well.
He even claimed that this was the harvest from his return, and it should be distributed by the superior.
"What do you all think?"
Zi Long took the crystals but could not ascertain the truth of Xuan Qi's words, so he looked at Qing Dao and Lan Yue.
"Handle it yourself."
Qing Dao said indifferently.
He could not ascertain the truth of the other party's words either, and he did not want to meddle in Zi Long's domestic affairs.
Lan Yue glanced at Ye Cangtian, and after a moment, she looked at Zi Long and said, "I don't think he's lying."
Hmm?
Upon hearing this, Ye Cangtian couldn't help but look at Lan Yue twice.
Even Qing Dao, who had always admired him, chose to remain silent on this matter.
And Lan Yue, whom he had only just met, why would she intervene and speak for him?
Was it intentional or unintentional?
Zi Long nodded slowly and said, "Xuan Qi, let's put this matter aside for now, but you'd better not let me catch any evidence..."
...